It's a bit tough to watch a man digging himself into a hole out of a misplaced sense of pride, but the film makes it very understandable. While it's a little too drawn out it's a very contemplative film that is even more relevant now than it was 9 years ago.

The film feels very earnest, collected, focused, it's nice and delicate in its formal sobriety, treats its "cynical" antihero with dignity, and address something fundamentally interesting - but it's a bit "stiff", explicit and overbearingly solem at times... But still, good shit.

Dragged a bit...20 minutes easily could've been lopped off. But the final scene elevated the film for me. Was not expecting that type of ending at all.

Heartbreaking, particularly in how relentlessly it sticks to its raison d'etre in its final act: exploring both the potential alienating effect of the modern business environment, but also more importantly (and more poignantly) the inability of many modern men to render themselves vulnerable and seek help when they need it.

The first quiet scenes are powerful. Recoing delivers a strong performance and Cantet successfully creates a hypnotic mood of despair and disorientation, thanks to his visual prowess. Still, the plot derails in the second half, as it becomes needlessly convoluted while failing to add anything new to what's already been explicitly described through the muted forcefulness of the initial scenes. It's an interesting document about the woes of unemployment, but ultimately far from revelatory.

A really powerful film that gains much of its impact from lingering on its subjects and letting the tiny details sink in. I really felt for this terrified man and his complete inability to be vulnerable in front of those who loved him. A rare critique of western working man.

i'm typically more inclined to be annoyed with 'good' character traits than 'bad' ones--vincent being a coward isn't really what bothers me, it's the fact that he's a coward who lacks any sort of virtuosity whatsoever. so maybe i'm at odds with a lack of character? in short, he can be sort of a maddening bore, which is too bad since it's a very engaging story synopsis, and in respect to form, interesting to look at. still pretty good but surprisingly more forgettable than it should be.

I love how the ending finds in its Everyman's decision to return to the burdens and responsibilities of everyday life a remarkable, stirring courage and nobility. It's the application of Camus' Myth of Sisyphus to modern capitalist society -- a rare existentialist treat.

Brutally honest film about the pain one man is willing to inflict in order to at least appear to live a more preferable life.